GRA Weekly

January 13, 2022

This week's newsletter is brought to you by GRA Corporate Partner, Workstream.

TASTE OF GEORGIA

13th Annual Taste Of Georgia Legislative Reception

This annual event is an opportunity for GRA members to showcase their food to elected officials and for our legislators to network with our state’s second largest employer. The honorees of the 2022 Georgia Grown Executive Chef Program will also be recognized.

GRA Restaurant Members: If you are interested in participating and showcasing your restaurant, send us an email at info@garestaurants.org.

When: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 | 5:00PM - 7:00PM

Where: Georgia Railroad Freight Depot | 65 Martin Luther King, Jr., Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30334

Attendance is complimentary for lobbyists, dignitaries, legislators, staff and their guests however registration is required. Discounted registration is available for GRA Members.

Interested in sponsoring? Send us an email at info@garestaurants.org

VACCINE MANDATE UPDATES

BREAKING NEWS: SCOTUS Blocks Biden Vaccine Mandate for Businesses

Today in a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) blocked the Biden administration's vaccine-or-test requirements for companies with 100 employees or more; however similar requirements for medical facilities that take Medicare or Medicaid payments were allowed to stand. Read more.

UPCOMING WEBINARS

FEDERAL UPDATES

Supply Chain Groups to White House: Speed Up COVID-19 Testing Access

As a member of the Critical Infrastructure Supply Chain Council, the Association wrote to President Biden expressing concern over the pandemic’s effect on the domestic supply chain. Organizations also urged the Biden Administration to expedite efforts to ensure access to and availability of COVID-19 testing supplies, especially for essential workers who not only contribute to the health, safety and well-being of Americans but also play a critical role in preserving the functionality of the supply chain.

Federal program allows some Americans to use food stamps for select low-cost restaurants, prepared meals

More states are allowing some users of food vouchers, or food "stamps," to use these benefits to purchase prepared meals. The Restaurant Meals program is most widely available in California and Arizona, but more states are now beginning to use it, particularly because many disabled or elderly residents are not always able to prepare meals at home. Read More.

GRA IN THE NEWS

Serving Mother Earth

Simply Buckhead - Compostable packaging, oil filtering among ingredients for eco-friendly dining. Recycling, composting, working with local farmers, sourcing sustainable seafood and donating instead of trashing leftover food are among the ways restaurants have reduced their environmental impact in recent years. But the pandemic has tested their commitment to green operations.

Sustainability becomes just one of myriad crucial concerns when supply chains are strained, employees are hard to find and keep and costs are soaring, says Karen Bremer, the CEO and president of the Georgia Restaurant Association. “Everybody is working to survive right now,” she says.

Short-staffed restaurants struggle to spare workers to ensure that the compostables and recyclables go into appropriate bins, Bremer says. The sustained surge in takeout meals has forced restaurants to use any packaging they can find, even if they dislike plastic. “It’s disappointing not being able to fulfill your company’s [sustainability] goals and values due to supply chain issues,” Bremer says. Read More.

Local restaurants make a ‘completely unheard of’ move

AJC - Surcharge added to customer bills helps cover employee health care.

A croissant from Little Tart Bakeshop costs 16 cents more than it did six months ago. Breakfast at Buttermilk Kitchen is a tad more expensive, too. Ditto a drink at Ticonderoga Club. The cost increase is not a direct result of pandemic-induced inflation, nor is it to fund a wage increase. It’s to cover employee health care.

This summer, Little Tart owner Sarah O’Brien began adding a 4% pre-tax fee to transactions at her three bakery locations and at her farmers market stalls, as well as her Big Softie ice cream shop in Summerhill. Her husband, Paul Calvert, and his business partners at Ticonderoga Club, followed suit in October. So did Buttermilk Kitchen owner Suzanne Vizethann, who added a 5% pre-tax surcharge on all transactions at her Buckhead brunch destination, to cover not only health care but also paid time off. Read More.

OPERATOR SURVEY

Restaurants: Your Input is Needed

If you're a Georgia restaurateur, please take a few minutes to add your voice to the National Restaurant Association's survey, which is taking stock of the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 on the nation's restaurants. We want to be sure that the input of Georgia's restaurateurs is included in this national survey.

Take the survey today!

2022 PUBLIC AFFAIRS CONFERENCE

The National Restaurant Association’s 2022 Public Affairs Conference is April 25-27 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC. Join the Georgia Restaurant Association and fellow restaurateurs from across the nation in our nation's capitol as we advocate for the restaurant industry.

Barring a dramatic change from the DC government, this will be a fully in-person event with no virtual option. Attendees will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result taken within 72 hours of arrival.

The GRA will schedule meetings with the entire GA Congressional delegation. To register, visit conference.restaurantsact.com. Attendees who register before February 1 will receive an early bird discount of 50% off conference pricing. Contact Daniel New, Director of Advocacy, for more information on how you can get involved and attend.

2022 HUNGER WALK RUN

The Atlanta Community Food Bank's 38th annual Hunger Walk Run is confirmed for Sunday, March 6, 2022. This annual event unites our community in raising awareness and critical funds for local hunger relief across the state. Proceeds from the event benefit the Atlanta Community Food Bank and other local nonprofit organizations that support food pantries, community kitchens, shelters and other programs for people in need of food assistance. Create or join a team and help fundraise for the hybrid virtual and in-person event. Register.

The DOL 80/20 Tip Rule Revision: What Employers Should Know

You might have heard about the DOL 80/20 revisions that are due to come into effect on December 28, and you might think it’s nothing to worry about. But don’t get too comfortable! These revisions will affect restaurants and service establishments everywhere that have tipped employees on staff. So, if your restaurant falls into this category, keep reading. There are several important changes to the DOL 80/20 tip rule that you will need to understand. But first…

What Is The DOL 80/20 Tip Rule?

The 80/20 tip rule is a rule from the Department of Labor that requires employers with tipped employees to pay minimum wage instead of the lower tip credit wage for any time their workers spend 1) performing duties that are not tip-generating or tasks that are unrelated to their tip-generating duties and 2) that surpass 20% of their overall time for the week or that are done continually for more than 30 minutes.